『쇼운입명기[笑雲入明記]』를 통해서 본 중국 사찰과 명･일간의 불교 교류

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the Buddhist temples in China that were visited by Shōun Zuikin during his journey, as recorded in his travelogue, Shōun Nyumeiki. Shōun was a member of the Japanese Hotoku mission, which was dispatched to Ming China during the Muromachi shogunate. The objective of this study is to elucidate the nature of Buddhist exchanges between China and Japan during this period. Upon his arrival in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, Shōun proceeded to Beijing, returning via the Grand Canal. During his journey, he visited a considerable number of temples in various cities, including Ningbo and Hangzhou. In order to facilitate a detailed analysis, this paper categorises the temples visited by Shōun by region. In Ningbo, Shōun visited a number of temples in the vicinity. Subsequently, he was granted permission to proceed to Beijing, making a brief halt in Hangzhou, where he resided for a period and visited additional temples. This paper employs local records and historical documents to elucidate the historical origins and characteristics of each temple, as well as to examine the nature of exchanges between the Japanese Buddhist community and these Chinese temples. Moreover, upon reaching Beijing, Shōun visited the imperial temples at the emperor's behest. The temples in Beijing, in particular, reflect the flourishing Buddhist environment shaped by the influence of the emperor and his close eunuchs. Consequently, Shōun Nyumeiki constitutes a significant source of information on the nature of Buddhist exchanges and temple culture between Ming China and Japan in the mid-15th century. Shōun provides a detailed account of the political and social context of the period, as well as a comprehensive description of the history, structure, rituals, and daily life of the temples he visited. These temples played a pivotal role in Buddhist exchanges with Japan since the Song and Yuan dynasties. The memory of these exchanges persisted into the Ming period, providing insights into the cultural and religious interactions between the two countries.